Women In Jazz series shines bright with Canadian talent

DH Vancouver StaffFeb 15, 2016 1:14 pm

Women In Jazz is a two week-long event celebrating the best and brightest female talent coming out of Canada and the US. Coastal Jazz, the organization that brought superstars Erykah Badu and Tony Bennett to Vancouver for last year’s event, have just announced the lineup for their 2016 series with a slew of acclaimed musicians from Dawn Pemberton to Helen Hansen set for our city from February 28 to March 11.

Dawn Pemberton & the Nightcrawlers

Image: Coastal Jazz

Powerhouse vocalist Dawn Pemberton kicks off Women In Jazz 2016 by joining forces with Vancouver quintet The Nightcrawlers. Pemberton released her debut solo album Say Somethin’ to rave reviews and won the prestigious Western Canadian Music Award for Urban Recording of the Year in 2015. The Nightcrawlers features a “who’s who” of the Vancouver jazz scene including drummer Jesse Cahill, the group’s leader.

Helen Sung Quartet/Jodi Proznick with guest Laila Biali

Image: Coastal Jazz

Fresh from a European tour that included five concerts in five days in five different cities, the Helen Sung Quartet plays Frankie’s on March 2 and 3. Sung has released six studio albums (so far) and contributed material to Terri Lyne Carrington’s Grammy Award-winning Mosaic Project in 2011. The phenomenally talented Sung began playing classical piano at the age of five but switched to jazz after seeing a Harry Connick Jr. concert in college. The Jodi Proznick Quartet, fronted by Juno Award nominee Jodi Proznick, are also set to perform with pianist/singer/songwriter Laila Biali.

Champian Fulton Quartet plus Maya Rae

Image: Coastal Jazz

Frankie’s plays host to two fantastic talents on March 4 and 5. First up is a 45-minute set by singer Maya Rae who, at just 13 years old, is already a seasoned pro. Rae performed at the Vancouver Jazz Festival in 2013 and her songs have gotten airplay on CBC Radio. At 8:30 p.m., the Champian Fulton Quartet will take the stage to perform songs from Fulton’s album After Dark, a stunning collection of Dinah Washington covers. The quartet also features Joe Poole on drums, Russ Botten on bass and Cory Weeds on tenor sax.

Helen Hansen Quartet

Image: Coastal Jazz

After an impressive string of sold-out shows at the former Cellar Jazz Club, Helen Hansen is set to dazzle Frankie’s Jazz on March 6 with a little help from her friends. The singer will be joined by bass player Rene Worst, keyboardist Michael Creber and guitarist Bill Coon and together, the quartet will take on tunes by jazz pioneer Dave Frishberg in addition to a handful of standards.

Strong Women Strong Music

Image: Coastal Jazz

The Strong Women Strong Music series takes place over the course of three nights, with each performance showcasing the remarkable talents of six Canadian women. On March 8, fans will enjoy an evening featuring Sharon Minemoto on piano, Karen Graves on sax, Jen Hodge on bass and the vocals of Jennifer Scott, Laura Crema and Jaclyn Guillou. The March 10 roster features trumpeter Geeta Das, bassist Wendy Solloway and vocalists Karin Plato, Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Daphne Roubini, and Jillian Lebeck. On March 11, the lineup includes Wendy Solloway on bass, Mili Hong on drums and singing by Leora Cashe, Dawn Aitken, Andrea Superstein, and Diane Lines. Proceeds from all three shows go to Atira Women’s Resource Society, an organization that provides outreach support to women that have experienced violence.